Joule Bergerson

Joule Bergerson is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Chemical and Petroleum Engineering at the Schulich School of Engineering, with a joint appointment as a core faculty member of the Institute for Sustainable Energy, Environment and Economy (ISEEE) and the Centre for Environmental Engineering Research and Education at the University of Calgary.

Dr. Bergerson is the lead researcher for Life Cycle Assessment of Oil Sands Technologies, a collaborative project between the University of Calgary, the University of Toronto and industry and government participants. The project’s aim is to use modern hybrid life cycle assessment techniques to assess the economy-wide impacts, including greenhouse gas emissions, of current and proposed oil sands projects.

Project researchers, including Dr. Bergerson’s graduate students, work with scientists, engineers and members of the business community who are developing new oil sands technologies to develop and refine techniques for prospective life-cycle analysis. These techniques will help prioritize research and development activities by identifying technologies, or optimal combinations of technologies, that would provide particularly large life-cycle benefits.

To keep policy-makers informed about her research, in February 2012, Dr. Bergerson participated in “The Science of Canada’s Oil Sands Science Kiosk” event, co-hosted by the Senate of Canada and the Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada.

Dr. Bergerson received her PhD in a joint program of Civil and Environmental Engineering, and Engineering and Public Policy from Carnegie Mellon University. She has a master’s degree in chemical engineering from the University of Toronto and an undergraduate degree in chemistry and environmental science from Western University.

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